What's happening?

Whakatāne, Ōpōtiki, and Kawerau District councils have now adopted their provisional Joint Local Alcohol Policy 2023 (LAP).

As of 9 August 2023, there is a 30-day period during which appeals can be made by the Police, Medical Officer of Health and anyone who made a submission on the draft Policy.

The only grounds for appeal are that an element or elements of the Provisional Local Alcohol Policy are unreasonable considering the object of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012.

Appeals can be made to the Alcohol Regulatory and Licensing Authority in accordance with the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Regulations 2013.

Provisional Eastern Bay of Plenty Local Alcohol Policy - (PDF, 554 KB)

What's happened? 

We reviewed the joint Eastern Bay of Plenty Local Alcohol Policy which went out for consultation earlier this year (2023). Feedback on the draft policy closed on Friday 28th April 2023.

This is a joint policy between Whakatāne, Kawerau and Ōpōtiki District Councils and provides direction on how, when and where alcohol can be sold to try and limit the harm that it causes our community.

Local Alcohol Policies are required to be reviewed every six years. Our policy was last reviewed and adopted in 2016.

Check out our Policies page for the current version of this policy.